The sports scene is currently witnessing a flurry of activity no less exciting than the player transfer market, with attention turning to the masterminds behind sports projects. At the heart of this activity is the name of Spaniard Ramon Planes , the sporting director of Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad club, who has recently found himself at the center of a storm of speculation linking his future to major football clubs both locally and internationally.
Cryptic statements after Al-Gharafa night
The story took a more serious turn after Al-Ittihad's resounding 7-0 victory over Al-Gharafa of Qatar. Instead of focusing solely on the stunning performance, questions arose about Planes' future, especially with reports circulating about strong interest from Al- Hilal in acquiring his services, and some even suggesting a preliminary agreement. Planes' response was brief and diplomatic: "I love Al-Ittihad," accompanied by a broad smile. Observers considered this response insufficient to resolve the debate, leaving the door open to all possibilities and interpretations.
Barcelona elections reshuffle the cards
Beyond the Saudi rivalry, exciting developments are looming from Catalonia. FC Barcelona for presidential elections scheduled for mid-March, with leading candidate Victor Font openly declaring his intention to make sweeping changes to the club's management structure, including the removal of current sporting director Deco. Font confirmed he has an agreement with a new sporting director, whose name he declined to reveal due to the latter's existing contract, immediately pointing the finger at Planes.
This hypothesis gains strength from Planes' successful track record at Camp Nou, where he previously worked in the Catalan club's technical department and is credited with discovering and recruiting young talents who later became key players, such as Pedri and Ronald Araujo. This prior experience and his deep understanding of the club's environment make him the ideal choice for any reform project at Barcelona.
The importance of Planis and its expected impact
The battle for Planes' services reflects a major shift in modern football, where the sporting director has become the true architect of the project. For Al-Ittihad, Planes is a cornerstone of the club's new strategy, and his departure could disrupt their upcoming summer transfer plans. Domestically, the transfer of an experienced Planes to Al-Hilal could further solidify the club's administrative and technical dominance.
As of now, there are no official announcements, but the ambiguity in Jeddah coinciding with the election campaign in Barcelona makes the coming weeks crucial in determining the destination of one of the most prominent administrative minds in football today.
